FSU Football: Top 5 Wins Against Big Ten Schools All-Time

FSU football will take on another foe from the Big Ten in this year’s Orange Bowl in their third all time meeting against the Michigan Wolverines.

December 30th will be a rare day for the football program at FSU football, as – for just the 11th time in program history – the Seminoles will be facing a member of one of the longest standing Power Five conferences, the Big Ten.

The meeting between the Seminoles and Michigan will be the third time that the teams have met on the field (splitting the first two meetings) as the ‘Noles have faced just six members of the 14 team conference while they were in the league (having played Nebraska and Maryland multiple times when they were in other conferences).

While the Orange Bowl showdown will likely be one for the books, what have been the best five games against Big Ten teams for the ‘Noles all time? Here’s our list.

No. 5 – 2008 Champs Sports Bowl (FSU 42 Wisconsin 13)

You can’t say this game wasn’t an equal opportunity game for FSU football. Christian Ponder had two touchdown passes, the defense had two fumble recoveries they returned for touchdowns – and punter/kicker Graham Gano was named the game MVP!

No. 4 – 1988 vs. Michigan State (FSU 30 Michigan State 7)

The year before, the Seminoles dominated their first ever meeting with the Spartans in East Lansing, winning 31-3. This effort goes on the defense, which held the men in green to just 25 yards rushing and both Deion Sanders and LeRoy Butler came up with interceptions, with Butler’s being returned for a touchdown.

No. 3 – 1998 Sugar Bowl (FSU 31 Ohio State 14)

You almost couldn’t blame the ‘Noles if they had come out flat after losing to Florida and costing themselves a national title appearance in the Orange Bowl. Still, FSU football came out and dominated from the start, scoring 21 unanswered points to stay in control and get another win over the Buckeyes.

No. 2 – 1991 vs. Michigan (FSU 51 Michigan 31)

Seeking a little redemption from their two point loss to the Wolverines in 1986, the Seminoles jumped out from the game’s start – a pick six for Terrell Buckley on the game’s second play set the tone to go along with three touchdown passes from Casey Weldon as FSU football added another iconic stadium to their list of victories.

No. 1 – 1981 vs. Ohio State (FSU 36 Ohio State 27)

Two weeks before, the ‘Noles had started their “Murder’s Row” schedule of five straight away games with a loss to Nebraska. The Seminoles would take the lead in the second quarter on a Tony Johnson touchdown reception that would give FSU football their first milestone road win against a non-southeast power program. They would go on to win against Notre Dame and LSU (wrapped around a loss to Pittsburgh) to finish the road streak with a winning record.